Since the launch of our Beyond Cleaning strategy in 2022, we have been actively committed to furthering our social impact and giving back to those in need. Within the four pillars of our Beyond Cleaning strategy lies ‘Empowering Our People’, which serves as our reminder to get involved in local initiatives within the community.
On Tuesday 1st Apil, we joined forces with Bunzl Cleaning and Hygiene Supplies (BCHS) for a volunteering day at Pets Corner. Our Marketing and Content Creator, Crystal Barnard, and Office Administrator, Ola Ruszczak, were joined by BCHS’s Branch Manager, Steven McMillan, and Office Manager, Tyler Anthony, who together carried out a variety of physical tasks from paddock maintenance and enclosure cleans to animal relocation.
About Pets Corner
Pets Corner is a local petting zoo located in the heart of Harlow. The zoo offers visitors the opportunity to observe a variety of animals, from traditional farm animals to meerkats and even reindeer. Since its establishment in 1966, Pets Corner has been dedicated to providing a safe space for animals to reside and educational experiences for the local community.
Recently, Pets Corner underwent a renovation, welcoming five new animals, four meerkats and a Sulcata tortoise into their newly developed Africa Enclosure. This new enclosure encourages conversations about different species and their habitats, promoting education and awareness of African wildlife.
Volunteering plays a crucial aspect in Pets Corner’s daily operations. With no admission fee for visitors, their flow of income is restricted. To support their work, Pets Corner offers a volunteering programme for corporate organisations and individuals aged 14 and above. This initiative allows for hands-on community involvement, while supporting the site’s day-to-day operations.
Volunteers help to spread the daily workload across a larger group, allowing Pets Corner’s dedicated employees to focus on the clinical welfare of the animals to ensure they get the best care possible.to the continued support from volunteers, local businesses and council, Pets Corner remains a well-loved space for local community members.
Our Partnership with Bunzl
BCHS are a specialist distribution and services group that allow us to deliver our services to our clients as sustainably as possible. We began our partnership with BCHS in the beginning in 2023, since then, we have been involved in many initiatives from volunteering to charity recognition. Their services form an integral part of our services for our clients. With a collaborative approach we are able to deliver tailored sustainable solutions to clients nationally across England.
Our partnership with BCHS resonates from the joint sustainability aspirations within the cleaning industry. With a focus on investing in their people, creating a responsible supply chain and providing tailored solutions, we find ourselves entirely aligned with our ESG commitments.
Our Day at Pets Corner
For the first quarter of the year, BCHS invited us to participate in a volunteering day at Pets Corner.
Beginning the day at 9am, the group met the team at Pets Corner following with a tour of the petting zoo and meeting some animals. After being equipped with health and safety training on how to handle the animals with the required care and how to carry out the full scope of activities, the team’s first challenge was to carry out a deep clean of the goat enclosure.
Cleaning the goat enclosure involved removing materials such as beds, mats, water feeders and tractor tires. Once removed, the team began deep cleaning the enclosure using various animal friendly cleaning solutions, starting with the ceiling beams and ending with the flooring.
After completion of the deep clean, they carried their activities to the outdoor paddocks where they were educated about the animals residing at Pets Corner, including Royal Golden Guernsey goats, donkeys and Shetland ponies. Here they began paddock picking as well as carrying out general yard maintenance.
The team closed the day by replenishing animal feed, bedding and relocating two donkeys from the outdoor paddock to their enclosure.
Reflecting on the experience, Ola shared:
“Helping the local community is so important to me. Being able to help places such as Pets Corner is highly rewarding, and I am grateful that I could take part. Having these initiatives within our company is so important, and I urge those who are able to volunteer to do so as soon as they can.”
Continuing to reflect on the day, Tyler commented:
“We had a fab day joining forces with DOC cleaning on our volunteering day at Pets Corner. We worked hard to complete the deep clean on the goats pens. The sun was shining all day, and in the afternoon we maintained the pony paddocks. It was lovely to build relationships with on of our local customers, and thank you to Pets Corner for having us”
We would like to once again extend our thanks to Bunzl and Pets Corner for coordinating the day, and we look forward to future initiatives.
How to Get Involved
This day highlights the wider commitment we have within our Beyond Cleaning Strategy. Our dedication to Empowering Our People and supporting the local communities in which we work. For us, investing in our local communities creates safer spaces for all to enjoy and thrive.
Strengthening local organisations is crucial. Initiatives such as these it allow for collaboration, create new opportunities, and ensure long-term sustainability for businesses and social programmes.
This day reflects our broader commitment to our Beyond Cleaning strategy – particularly our focus on Empowering Our People and supporting the communities where we operate.
We believe that investing in local communities helps create safer, more inclusive spaces where people can flourish. Initiatives like this open the door to collaboration and lay the foundations for long-term sustainability, both for businesses and individuals within the local area.
Find out more about our Beyond Cleaning Strategy and how you can get involved here.